Palins Endorse Ted Cruz in Texas Senate Race

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, have endorsed another Senate candidate in a contested Republican primary: former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz.

Cruz told supporters in an email that he sought her support via a letter.

“We’re proud to join conservatives in Texas and throughout the nation in supporting your campaign to become the next Senator from the Lone Star State,” Palin wrote back.

“Your conservative principles, passionate defense of our Constitution and our free market system come at a time when these cornerstones of our freedom and prosperity are under attack,” she added. “Our shared goal isn’t just to change the majority in control of the Senate, but to assure principled conservatives like you are there to fight for us.”

The Cruz email also notes that Palin endorsed in Indiana’s Senate GOP primary. The Cruz campaign has touted state Treasurer Richard Mourdock’s walloping of Sen. Dick Lugar in Tuesday’s primary and has sought to paint Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, the frontrunner in the Senate race, as similar to Lugar in that both are the “establishment” candidates.

Dewhurst and Cruz are locked in a crowded GOP primary that also includes former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert and former ESPN analyst Craig James. Roll Call rates the race to replace retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) as Safe Republican.

It is presumed that Dewhurst will come in first in the May 29 primary. The question is whether he can top 50 percent and avoid a July 31 runoff with the second-place finisher.

The Cruz endorsement comes a day after Palin endorsed state Sen. Deb Fischer in the Nebraska GOP Senate primary to replace retiring Sen. Ben Nelson.